Clinical Research Directory

Comparison Between Conventional Rehabilitation and Conventional Rehabilitation Through Dance in Patients With COPD

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as one of the most relevant conditions worldwide, due to its high morbidity and mortality. Patients classified by GOLD as groups B and E are strongly encouraged to participate in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs. Dance has been shown to be equally or, at times, more effective as a rehabilitation strategy when compared to other types of physical activity. Objective: To compare the effect of conventional rehabilitation and the effect of conventional rehabilitation added to dance in patients with COPD. Methods: This is a conventional randomized controlled clinical trial to be carried at the Piquet Carneiro University Polyclinic, Rio de Janeiro. Patients diagnosed with COPD will be evaluated. Eligible participants will complete specific questionnaires and tests. Finally, participants will be randomly divided into two groups: one group will perform conventional PR twice a week and the other group will perform rehabilitation through dance twice a week using 2 different playlists. The music will be from nationally and internationally known artists during 8 weeks. The evaluation tests will be repeated at the end of the intervention. Expected results: It is expected that the group of individuals with COPD who perform rehabilitation through dance will obtain greater and better results in relation to exercise capacity, QoL and peripheral muscle strength when compared to the group that will carry out the intervention consisting of two days of conventional PR. Keywords: Dance; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Muscle strength; Quality of life; Rehabilitation.

Dose-response Effect of Community Dance Programme

The goal of this interventional study is to examine the dose-response effect of Community Dance Programme (CDP) on the physical, cognitive and psychological health of pre-frail and mildly frail community-dwelling older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: Hypothesis 1: Two sessions of CDP per week (75 minutes each) significantly increase the physical outcomes (i.e. CFS, EFS, SPPB, grip strength) of community-dwelling older adults as compared to one session of CDP per week. Hypothesis 2: Two sessions of CDP per week significantly improve the cognitive outcomes (i.e. MoCA, SDMT) of community-dwelling older adults as compared to one session of CDP per week. Hypothesis 3: Two sessions of CDP per week significantly improve the psychosocial outcomes (i.e. WHOQOL-OLD, De Jong Giervald Loneliness Scale, GPIC scale, SHS, SSQ) of community-dwelling older adults as compared to one session of CDP per week. Intervention: The participants will be asked to attend two sessions of CDP per week for 12 weeks at their respective Active Ageing Centres (AACs). Active control: The participants will be asked to attend one session of CDP per week for 12 weeks AACs. * The participants will be asked to go to the AACs at baseline and after 12 weeks of CDP intervention for the collection of data. * The participants will be asked to wear fitness trackers to track their heart rates during the CDP sessions to ensure that the dance curriculum is kept within the moderate intensity.

Dance and Blood Flow Restriction as Balance Training for Older Women

Falls are one of the leading causes of hospitalization and mortality among older adults (aged 65+) in Canada. Falls result from postural instability following age-related declines in muscle strength which begin in the 5th decade of life. Older women have higher rates of injury from falls due to greater deterioration of bone mass density and lower levels of physical activity when compared to men. Participation in physical activity and exercise has been shown to slow these age-related declines in postural stability by improving muscle function as well as proprioceptive and sensory systems, however the majority of older women are inactive. Dance has been used to inspire physical activity uptake among older women, and is particularly good for balance due to its both sensory and motor aspects that focus on precise execution of movement. Dance interventions have been found to improve postural stability and balance confidence. Post-pandemic, online dance classes have provided greater accessibility to exercise interventions aimed at promoting balance. These help reach women facing transportation barriers, who have a fear of exercising with others, women with time-consuming caregiver roles at home etc. While beneficial, the intensity of online classes must be lower to ensure safety, thereby limiting physiological stimulus for adaptations. As typically higher intensity exercise is needed to promote muscle strength there may not be adequate stimulus for adaptations. Furthermore, there is little evidence of strength gains even from in-person dance classes. Blood flow restriction may offer an easy and cost-effective way to mimic higher intensity exercise and boost training benefits. Blood flow restriction has been found to boost strength during low-intensity resistance training, but there is little information on adaptations after balance training or potential transfer to reduce the risk of falls. This 12-week online exercise intervention investigates whether blood flow restriction during dance classes can augment strength, dynamic balance and postural stability of older women aged 65 years and above. Two groups of older women will participate in twice weekly 75 minute ballet and modern-dance classes over Zoom. One group will be randomized to wear 5 centimeter elasticised blood flow restriction bands on their proximal thighs during the classes. Bands will be tightened to a 7/10 of perceived tightness. Postural stability will be assessed using 9, 30-second trials of quiet standing on a force platform in conditions of eyes-open, eyes-closed and on a foam block - trials will be staggered to reduce fatigue effects. Trials will also be video recorded for kinematic analysis of shoulder and hip displacement using Kinovea. Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Star Excursion Balance Test. Participants will be asked to stand on one foot in the middle of the star and reach their other leg as far as they can above the line. The distance the participant reaches in each direction will be recorded and normalized by limb length. Strength will be assessed using the 30-second Sit-to-Stand test and Calf-Raise Senior test. Both tests involve participants doing the maximum number of repetitions possible within a 30-second time frame. Finally scales of fears of falling and overall perceptions of health will be collected. It is expected that this study will have great practical implications as the accessibility of this program can provide opportunities to older adults from various remote locations to increase their levels of physical activity in a safe manner. The affordability may also aid in adoption by community health and recreation centers as an easy-to-implement program that helps to reduce the risk of falls of older women, thereby promoting independence and quality of life.